Vegetarian Pho Noodle Soup

Looking for the method to create the most flavorful vegetarian pho soup base? You’ve come to the right place. {Vegan, Gluten-Free adaptable}

The vegetarian diet has never been a mainstream thing in China, and it just started to gain popularity over the past few years. Vegetarian food is translated as Su Shi (素食) in Chinese, which literally means simple and plain food. Its definition is quite debatable. For Buddhist vegetarian cuisine, even spicy and pungent ingredients such as onion and garlic are not allowed. On the other hand, many Chinese vegetarian restaurants do serve eggs. And I’ve found quite a few people around me claiming to be vegetarian, but still eating chicken soup and food cooked in pork broth.

If you’ve followed my blog for any amount of time, you know that I’m not a vegetarian myself. However, I started to cook vegetarian meals more often after moving to the US and gaining 20 pounds in the first year.

I’ve also learned that she is a second-generation Chinese immigrant, having grown up in Australia in a traditional Chinese family. She’s been a vegetarian diet for over twenty years and shares plant-based recipes that are influenced by Asian, Middle Eastern, and French cuisines. It was fascinating to read the story about her family’s rejection of her conversion to a vegetarian diet.

The photo on the right is quoted from Hetty’s Blog Arthur Street Kitchen

When I purchased her cookbook, I asked Hetty what her favorite recipe from it was.

“The vegetarian pho salad”. She said without a second thought.

I immediately knew it was the recipe I’d try out as soon as I got home.

Cooking notes

Hurricane Harvey hit Texas around the time I had gathered all my ingredients for the cooking. It had been raining heavily throughout the weekend. So instead of making a noodle salad (the original recipe uses a reduced pho broth), I made a larger batch of the broth and turned the dish into a noodle soup to warm us on that stormy day.

The length of the recipe might look formidable, but trust me, you are going to create the most flavorful vegetarian pho broth ever. The fact is, you need very little active cooking time to prepare the broth. Once it’s done, you can use it in many different ways, with whatever ingredients you have on hand.

Charring the onion and ginger makes a big difference.

It takes a bit of time and patience if you do it on a gas stove. Alternatively, you can char the veggies under the broiler.

Double the broth if you want leftovers.

I love this broth so much, so I would make more and save it for use in other soups later on.

Do feel free to change up the toppings.

The original recipe uses a lot of veggies because it’s a salad recipe. I found that some tofu and one or two types of veggies make a great meal.

Two ways to cook the veggie toppings.

The quickest way is to boil the veggies in the broth after you remove the aromatics. But personally, I prefer to sear the veggies with some salt and pepper on the stovetop. You can also roast the veggies in the oven while you make the broth. Both ways create flavorful toppings.

What is five-spice tofu?

It’s a type of tofu that is pre-seasoned and smoked. The best thing is, you can slice it and add it to the dish without having to cook it first. If you do not live close to an Asian market and can’t get five-spice tofu, you can use normal tofu on the stovetop or in the oven to create a crispy texture. It works just as well topped on the noodles.

Instructions

Pho soup base

To char the onion and ginger, turn a gas stove or a grill to medium high heat and place the vegetables directly on the flame. Cook until the surface is slightly blackened all over. Alternatively, you can turn on the broiler (without preheating) and place the veggies on a lined baking tray. Cook right below the broiler for 4 to 5 minutes on each side. Keep an eye on the veggies so they don’t burn.

Heat a large pot over medium low heat. Add the cinnamon, white peppercorns, star anise, cloves, and coriander seeds. Toast and stir for about 30 seconds, until you can smell a strong fragrance.

Add the vegetable stock, soy sauce, carrots, shiitake mushrooms, charred onion, and ginger to the pot. Cook over high heat until bringing to a boil. Turn to medium low heat. Simmer covered for 1 hour to 1 and half hours. Strain the broth and season with salt.

Bring a medium pot of water to a boil and cook rice noodles according to instructions on the package. Drain and rinse with running tap water.

Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium high heat in a large skillet and sprinkle with a pinch of salt. Cook the broccolini, 2 to 3 minutes per side, until it turns tender and lightly browned.

You can cook the mushrooms and the baby bok choy with the same pan-fry method. Or you can boil them in the broth after you strain the broth, 5 minutes for the mushrooms and 3 minutes for the baby bok choy.

To assemble the bowls, add noodles into each serving bowl and pour the broth over them. Top with broccolini, baby bok choy, mushrooms, tofu, bean sprouts, and herbs. Serve hot with lime wedges, Sriracha, and hoisin sauce on the side.

Notes

If you cannot find five-spice tofu, cook baked crispy tofu according to this recipe, or make pan fried crispy tofu with this recipe.

It is perfectly fine to choose 2 to 3 toppings you prefer.

My favorite way to peel ginger is using a small spoon. It gets into the uneven surface without peeling off too much of the meat.

Nutrition

Serving Size:1 of the 6 servings

Calories:273cal

Sugar:5.2g

Sodium:240mg

Fat:6.6g

Carbohydrates:45.4g

Fiber:6.3g

Protein:12.1g

Cholesterol:0mg

Disclosure

Omnivore's Cookbook is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

I, also, am not a vegetarian (even wrote a book about bacon), BUT most of the meals we cook at our house are vegetarian. My wife is…. and since I am the cook, I work to accommodate. There are great vegetarian meals out there that really don’t need any meat. This meal looks awesome. This is going on my to save list!

I’m making this recipe today! A nearby city makes a marvelous vegetarian pho, and I’ve been hoping to replicate the full flavors, so knowing how good your recipes are I’m hopeful.

I have a stovetop smoker and I frequently make smoked tofu, so I’m wondering if doing so with a five spice rub might replicate the flavor of the commercial product, which I’ve never tasted? I live in a rural area with no Asian markets.

I’m glad to hear you decided to try out the recipe!
Wow, it’s pretty hardcore to make smoked tofu at home! I’ve never tried it before. I speculate you can rub the tofu with five spice powder (just a bit) and some salt to replicate the commercial stuff. Actually, I would recommend a wet marinade with some added soy sauce and sugar as well. Just to make to dry the tofu before smoking.
Happy cooking and I hope the result turns out great 🙂

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Hi, I’m Maggie!

Welcome to my site about modern Chinese cooking - including street food, family recipes, and restaurant dishes. I take a less labor-intensive approach while maintaining the taste and look of the dish. I am originally from Beijing, and now cook from my Austin, Texas kitchen. Start browsing recipes and visit my partner's premium Chinese spice store.